Content protection continuity through authorized chains of components

摘要

Provided is techniques for the distribution and control of digital content such that Quality of Experience (QoE) is maintained. Content is protected from when the content is encrypted to when it is used. To ensure the QoE of particular content, a content owner embeds a list of required or preferred components that must be employed to render the content. The content owner's list of required or preferred components specifies specific components “trusted” to correctly process the content. The specified chain of preferred components is compared to possible devices in the system that processes the content. If there are multiple acceptable devices for a specific link, a preference system is employed to determine the device that executed the particular part of the chain. The preference system is based upon a number of factors, such as, but not limited to, performance characteristics, user preferences, expected stability, power requirements and system preferences.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
generating an execution chain descriptor (ECD) corresponding to a digital content, wherein the ECD specifies requirements for a transmission and rendering of the digital content; cryptographically binding the ECD to the digital content; evaluating, with respect to the ECD, a potential path for the transmission and rendering of the digital content; transmitting and rendering the digital content via the potential path in response to a determination, based on the evaluating, that the potential path meets the requirements specified in the ECD; receiving a second ECD cryptographically bound to the digital content once the transmission and rendering has been initiated; evaluating the potential path for the transmission and rendering of the digital content with respect to the second ECD; and discontinuing to transmit and render the digital content via the potential path in response to a determination, based upon the evaluating with respect to the second ECD, that the potential path does not meet the requirements specified in the second ECD.